Battery support and clamp.



W. MAOGLASHAN.

BATTERY SUPPORT AND CLAMP.

APPLIGATxoN FILED rr; 5,1913.

Z SHEETS'SHEBT 1.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

W. MAOGLASHAN.

BATTERY SUPPORT AND CLAMP.

APPLIoATIoN funn mm, 191s.

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WILLIAM MACGLASHAN, 0F SOUTH BEND, INDIANA., ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBAKERCORPORATION, UF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BATTERY SUPPORT AND CLAMP.

To all vwhom z'z. may concern Be it known thatJ I, WILLIAM M AcGLAsHAN,a citizen of the United States of America, residing at South Bend, St.Joseph county, State of Indiana, have invented certa-in new and usefulImprovements in Battery Supports and Clamps, of which the follo'livingis aspecification.

This invention relates to a supporting and clamping device for storagecells which serve as the source of power in an electrically propelledroad vehicle.

In the past various means have been used to support the batteries.Usually the trays inclosing the cells are mounted on a metal frame andheld in place by wooden covers fastened by more or less cumbersomemeans. The metal frame supporting the batteries is ordinarily connectedto the metal frame' work of the vehicle, and when, as frequently happensowing to the numerous shocks and jars to which the vehicle is subjected,the liquid overflows and wets the metal, a short circuit or leak isestablished, the current flowing through the liquid, which is an acidsolution, over the surface wet thereby on to the metal and being thusdistributed. Also t-he solution is active as a corrosive agent, and thelength of life of all the metal parts subject to its action is greatlydecreased.

With the various devices for supporting the battery cells now in use,the cells or trays containing the cells are difficult of access, and toremove and replace a tray is an operation requiring a considerableeffort and often involving the use of tools. The battery clamp andsupport described vherein is so constructed as to eliminate the Lvariousdefects and diiiculties referred to and to render the battery easy ofaccess.

To give the structure the necessary strength and stiffness, it is formedwith a rigid frame on which is mounted a support or floor to receive thetrays containing the cells, the trays and floor or support being ofnon-con ducting material to eliminate the chance of short-circuits andleaks.

As is usual in such batteries, the cells are mounted in trays, arrangedseveral in a tray, and the trays are adapted to slide in the directionof their length laterally ofthe ma.- chine into and ont of the supportto give access to the cells when desired` The con- Specicaton of LettersPatent.

Application filed February 5, 1913.

PatentedMar. 31, 1914. Serial No. 746,328.

tacting sliding surfaces are usually greased, and to protectthcsesurfaces and prevent picking up of grit when the trays are restedon the floor or pavement, the contact or follower surfaces are raisedabove the bottom of the tray which is provided with a shoe or support onwhich the tray rests when withdrawn, and the support is formed withraised ways, two for each tray to cooperate with the follower surfaceson the tray. Between the ways is a channel adapted to receive the shoeor bottom board of the tray, the bottom of the latter being out ofcontact with the bottom of the channel. Thus when the tray is withdrawnfor replacing the cells and placed on the pavement or cartraclrs orfloor, the follower surfaces which bear the weight of the trays and areusually greased to reduce the friction in sliding the trays in and out,are held out of contact with the pavement or whatever surface the traymay be placed on, so that the greased surface does not pick up vdirt andgrit and is protected from injury.

To hold the trays in position, instead of the usual cover with nails orscrews subject to injury by the acid, an improved clamp is used. Thishas the portions adjacent the trays formed of wood. The trays extendtransversely of the machine, and the ends of each tray are provided withprojecting ledges. Removable clamping bars which extend longitudinallyof the machine, one on cach side of the frame, copcrate with the ledgesto clamp the trays. These bars are forced downward against the ledges byeccentrics or other suitable means. In the preferred form of the deviceone eccentric is placed at each end of each bar.

As will be understood, the trays are removed by sliding them in alateral direction along the ways provided for that purpose, and to raisethe bar on the far side of the machine from the operator to permit theledges on that end of the trays to be inserted thereunder, a resilientmember as a rubber pad or spring is provided beneath each end of eachbar, and in clamping to lock the trays, this resilient member iscompressed as the bar is forced downward.

The accompanying drawings show a portion of a vehicle frame with thecells or batteries supported thereon by means of a device constructed inaccordance with my invention, and in connection with the drawings theVarious features to which We have referred and other features of theinvention will be more fully discussed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a portion of the vehicle trame, thebattery trays, the support therefor and the means for clamping thetrays. Fig. 2 is a trans verse section through the 'frame showing a.trayin elevation and the clamping and supporting means in cross-sectionFig. 3 is a section on the line f3, 3 ot Fig. 2. Fig. 4 a detail 4viewof the clamp shown in connec tion with a port-ion of the support. Fig.is a perspective ot the insulating supporting members cut on the line 3,3 of Fig.

The longitudinal members of the frame proper of the vehicle are shownat 1. From these members the ba tery supporting frame proper issuspended. This preferably consists of inverted U-shaped members 2,constructed of channel bars, the opening of the channel beingl turnedinward as shown in cross-section in Fic. 2. Within the horizontalportion of each channel 2 resting on the bottom llange 3 thereof, is awooden header 4 extending the full length ot the horizontal portion ofthe channel. The tloor members 5 and Ways t3, which are placedtransversely of thc vehicle, extend into the channels and rest withtheir ends on the headers 4, the ways being thicker than the floor arenotched at their ends to receive the top flange 7 of the channels. Thefloor mem1 bers 5 are reinforced and the U-frarnes are likewise heldbraced by means of tension members Z1 extending transversely of themachine7 turned down at their ends at 2Q to 'form lugs, each lug beingpierced to receive a bolt 23 inclined upward and ontward and extendine`through the corresponding channel. The bolts Q3 are drawn tight by meansot nuts 24s placing the bar 21 under tension and drawing the channelstogether. Thus the tension members bind the parts in tWo directions.Tlu. transverse Wooden members 5 and G add the necessary lateralstiffness to the supporting frame and take the compression, the hands 2ltaking the tension stresse.. The floor planks and the Ways 6 are` 1n thepreferred l'orzn et the device, doveta'led and notched to interlock asshown in li- The trays '7, ticularly7 Fig. 1. .are formed 'lo lit theport, that is each h keel or bottoni to occupy tho el i t5 and followeraves tl to rest on the Ways tl. Tl L t er surfaces 1i) and, the topsurfaces 11 uurs are preferably greased to reduce the l'i trays into andout. o` inc .cartine At each end each tray i pi'frvidcd Ywith aprojecting lcd scc Figs. 1 and 2. and to lock the l` in place the bars1S at ion in sliding; the

memes each side of the machine are forced down against the ledges on thetrays. l

The bars 13, which are preferably of Wood or other non-conductingmaterial, extend longitudinally of the machine, one on each side of thebattery, and each extends from one leg to the other of the U on thatparticular side. These bars are supported and guided by means of cleats14 secured to the frame one on each legr 15 of each Uframe. lVhen tree,thc bars have a slight vertical play and mayv be removed by sliding themendu'ise by the cleats 14. The bars r3 are clamped and forced downagainst the ledges by means of eccentric clamps 16 consisting or' aneccentric 17 pivoted at 18 on the frame and formed with a hand lever 19,the greatest. radius of the eccentric being substantially at rightangles to the lever 19. Thus by rotatingv the lever 19 toward the bar,the latter is locked and forced down ward against. the ledges 12 withthe maxiv mum tension.

To raise the bar 13 which happens to be on the side of the machineremote from the operator, when the clamp is released so as to admit theledge 12 of any tray which is being inserted, resilient members 20 areprovided one beneath the bars at each end. These as shown are in theform of a rubber pad. though other resilient means may he employedWithin the scope of the invention. ln this connection it will beunderstood that the nearer bar is removed to admit the trays, the remoteone being)- merely unclamped.

At the top over the batteries and beneath the metal frame of thevehicle, is a cover This as shown is constructed of light nonconductingand non--corrodingr material as veneer or tibenboard and archedcentrally, the l ey-line of the arch extending laterally et the machine.t the sides the cover rests on suitable supports 26, and its center ispositioned by means of lguides 27. The cover material is resilient. andthe cover is 1'ormed on an arc deeper than the distance between thesupports QG and the bar 1. In iiiserting the coi-er, it is slightlyflexed by hand to pass beneath the longitudinal member 1 of the frame onthe near side, and to similarly flex the cover at the opposite side and.seat it mvnvenientljv. the ,guides 27 are used. Of these there are ti.one on each side extendine* inward 'from the oase ot' the frame memlors1 and having' their lower surfaces up* rdlv and inner-div inclined. Thecover' il lmtrJr-en tuo ways.

vterminal that end. As the arrangement of the cells may be `varied fromtime to tune, means is provided for varyinfr the s1gn used, so that itmay be changed trom plus tov minus orA vice versa. For this purpose itis found convenient to supply at the end of each tray a button 29grooved in the form of a cross as shown.v If it is desired to indicatethe terminal at that end of the tray as minus, the top and bottom armsoit the cross 'are filled up with suitable material as white putty andthe horizont-al roove. is filled with material of any suitab e color asblue, the body of the button being white, and it' the plus sign is to beused, the whole cross is filled with material of different color, redwax or red putty, or the cross may otherwise conveniently utilized toindicate either a plus or minus sign, the colors being immaterial.

.The operation of the device described will be apparent from thedescription taken in connection with the drawings. The trays which arepreferably of wood, are supported on the wooden Ways 6 on the woodenfloor 5, and held by the wooden clamping bars 13 so that they do notcome in contact with any part of the metal frame, and it the acid isspilled in any way, it will not serre to make electric connection withany ot the metal parts ol the vehicle. ing and consequent waste ofelectricity prevented.

The batteries are conveniently held with out the use of screws or nails.This not only adds to the convenience of remov' ing and replacing thecells, but is also desirable, fis screws or nails are attacked by theacid and .soon destroyed. The cover described may be convenientlyremoved and replaced, and it Serves to protect the frame from the acidwhich might be deposited thereon by solashing up from the cells due tothe vibration of the vehicle. The bottoms of the are convenientlyconstructed so that the follower surfaces raised and protected, and maybe greased and maintained in condition free of grit., etc. even thoughthe cells are frequently withdrawn and placed on any con- 'renientsupport as the pavement or floor or the like.

I have described my invention in detail in order that its nature andoperation may be clearly understood.

What I claim and desire ters Patent is:

l. Means for holding the cell trays for the battery in an electricvehicle consistingr of a supporting frame, projecting members on theends of the trays, a horizontal bar to take over the projecting membersand an eccentric clamp at each end of the bar,

2. Means for holding the cell trays for the battery in an electricvehicle consisting of a supporting frame, projecting members to secureby Leb Thus is short-circuit on the ends of the trays, a horizontal barto take over the proJecting members, a clamp at each end of the bar, anda resilient meiaber beneath the bar.

il. Means for holding the cell trays for the battery in an electricvehicle consisting of a supporting trame, projecting members on rho endsof the trays, a. horizontal bar to take over the projecting members, aClamp for the bar` and ineens tending to raise the bar.

Means for supporting the battery of an electric vehicle, consisting of adepending trafic having a wooden floor, laterally eX- .cni'lingays'thereon for each tray, and folower surfaces ou the Vvrays to(',operate with he we ,'s. the latter being` spaced apart forming a,groove beneath each tray and. each tray being 'iigovidod with adepending bottoni member exteni'lingA into the groove and free oi thebottom thereof.

5. A battery trav having follower surfaces and a depending supportingineniber below the follower surfaces.

Means for supporting the battery for an electriil vehicle consisting oftrays for the cells each adapted to hold a. plurality of cells, adepending frame supporting the trays and a cover for thoI battery niadeof thin, acidprooi, material and arched centrally, supnarts on thetraino to receive the cover, and a guide on thi` frame at one side toflex tbc cover at its top and hold itin position, the bottom surfaces otthe guide being inclined upward and inward toward the center of thevehicle.

7. A support for the battery of an electricallywlriven road vehicleconsisting of a de'iending U-shaped traine, a. non-conduct ing floortherefor having upwardly projecting ways extending transversely of thevehicle, a plurality of trays in length equal to the width of thevehicle and each adapted to hold a. plurality of cells, cach tray havingfollower surfaces to engage the ways and a bottom member to occupy thespace between the ways, and each tray having at each end a projectingledge, a clamping bar on each side of the support-ing frame mounted toplay, eccentric clamps have a slight vertical v at each end of the barand resilient members beneath the bar at each end, the bars being placedto engage the ledges.

support for the battery of an `eleotrie vehicle consisting of 'adepending U shaped frame at each side of the vehicle, the plane of the Ubeing placed longitudinally oi the vehicle, each Ushaped frame beingformed of channel bar with its Aopening inwardly disposed, a woodenheader in each channel, a wooden floor with its planks resting at eachend on the header, transverse ways, tension bands extending from side toside and upwardly inclined bolts passing through the channels andheaders, securing each band at its end to the channel, the

bands being placed directly beneath the the support bein-g free of thebottom of the floor. channel. l J 9. Meixner for supporting the batteryof an Signed at South Bend, Indiana, this 28th electricvehicle-consistin" of a frame, luterday`of January, 1913.

5 ally-extending ways :lng channels between WILLIAM 'MACGLSHAN the at-i'a-ywith follower surfaces to co- W'inesses:

operate with the Ways, and a depending sul 3 SCOTT BENNER,

port to engage the channel, the bottom of 1 JOHN F. COT'iER..

